Sample Characters and Character Generation

[Deleted]

I have created the following new characters after some struggle:

CHARACTER: ULF SVENSSON                     CHARACTER: VERNASH        
 
CLASS: VETERAN      EXPERIENCE:       0     CLASS: MEDIUM       EXPERIENCE:       0
 
RACE: MAN           HIT POINTS:       6     RACE: MAN           HIT POINTS:       5
 
ALIGNMENT: LAW      ENCUMBERANCE:   836     ALIGNMENT: CHAOS    ENCUMBERANCE:   213
 
STR: 11 CON: 13   LANGUAGES  TREASURES      STR: 11 CON:  8   LANGUAGES  TREASURES 
                |           |      6GP|                     |DWARF      |    113GP|
INT:  9 DEX:  8 |           |         |     INT: 13 DEX:  6 |DRAGON     |         |
                |           |         |                     |ELF        |         |
WIS:  7 CHA:  6 |           |         |     WIS: 9  CHA: 12 |           |         |
 
    EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS          EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS 
|CHAIN MAIL     |           |         |     |50' ROPE       |           |SLEEP    |
|SHIELD         |           |         |     |6 TORCHES      |           |         |
|HAND AXE       |           |         |     |DAGGER         |           |         |
|STD RATIONS    |           |         |     |STD. RATIONS   |           |         |
|L. BACK PACK   |           |         |     |SMALL SACK     |           |         |
|W. SKIN        |           |         |     |W. SKIN        |           |         |
|HELMET         |           |         |     |               |           |         |
|               |           |         |     |               |           |         |
|               |           |         |     |               |           |         |
 
CHARACTER: BROTHER ALARIC                   CHARACTER: TANARIEL DE'LESSA
 
CLASS: ACOLYTE      EXPERIENCE:       0     CLASS: VETERAN      EXPERIENCE:       0
                                                   MEDIUM                         0
RACE: MAN           HIT POINTS:       4     RACE: ELF           HIT POINTS:       4
 
ALIGNMENT: CHAOS    ENCUMBERANCE:  1140     ALIGNMENT: NEUTRAL  ENCUMBERANCE:  1130
 
STR:  5 CON:  7   LANGUAGES  TREASURES      STR: 13 CON:  6    LANGUAGES  TREASURES
                |           |     10GP|                     |DWARF      |      0GP|
INT:  4 DEX: 11 |           |         |     INT: 15 DEX: 12 |GOBLIN     |         |
                |           |         |                     |KOBOLD     |         |
WIS:  8 CHA:  6 |           |         |     WIS: 10 CHA:  3 |GNOME      |         |
 
    EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS          EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS   
|W. CROSS       |           |         |     |SWORD          |           |SLEEP    |
|MORNING STAR   |           |         |     |PLATE MAIL     |           |         |
|PLATE MAIL     |           |         |     |SHIELD         |           |         |
|SHIELD         |           |         |     |STD. RATIONS   |           |         |
|L. BACK PACK   |           |         |     |W. SKIN        |           |         |
|STD. RATIONS   |           |         |     |SHORT BOW      |           |         |
|W. SKIN        |           |         |     |20 ARROWS      |           |         |
|HELMET         |           |         |     |HELMET         |           |         |
|SMALL SACK     |           |         |     |               |           |         |
 
CHARACTER: LOTHGAR                          CHARACTER: TOM FURRYTOES
 
CLASS: VETERAN      EXPERIENCE:       0     CLASS: VETERAN     EXPERIENCE:        0
 
RACE: DWARF         HIT POINTS:       5     RACE: HOBBIT       HIT POINTS:        2
 
ALIGNMENT: NEUTRAL  ENCUMBERANCE:  1087     ALIGNMENT: LAW     ENCUMBERANCE:   1136
 
STR: 10 CON: 10   LANGUAGES  TREASURES      STR:  9 CON: 13   LANGUAGES  TREASURES 
                |           |      7GP|                     |           |      6GP|
INT:  6 DEX: 11 |           |         |     INT:  7 DEX: 13 |           |         |
                |           |         |                     |           |         |
WIS:  9 CHA:  7 |           |         |     WIS: 11 CHA: 15 |           |         |
 
    EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS          EQUIPMENT    MAGIC ITEMS M. SPELLS 
|MACE           |           |         |     |SHORT BOW      |           |         |
|PLATE MAIL     |           |         |     |60 ARROWS      |           |         |
|SHIELD         |           |         |     |FLAIL          |           |         |
|I. RATIONS     |           |         |     |PLATE MAIL     |           |         |
|LANTERN        |           |         |     |SHIELD         |           |         |
|OIL FLASK      |           |         |     |HELMET         |           |         |
|HELMET         |           |         |     |STD. RATIONS   |           |         |
|W. SKIN        |           |         |     |L. BACK PACK   |           |         |
|LARGE SACK     |           |         |     |W. SKIN        |           |         |

Even character creation is not without its problems in OD&D. The ability scores were rolled 3d6 in order, which is strongly implied in the book. No re-rolls were permitted, even with hit points, and no modifications outside the book were done. Ability scores were adjusted exactly as given in the book.

The book gives no guidance on how spells are acquired by magic users or clerics. This is not a huge concern for clerics, who don't get theirs until the second level, but as a magic user can memorize one spell, I gave them one spell randomly rolled from the list.

Even though I could have given each character a dagger to save a few gold pieces, as all weapons cause the same damage, I preferred some variety. No one has a helmet because I could not see any designated advantage in having one. Calculating the encumbrance was tricky, I'm not sure whether I got it right.

As far as the characters go, Tom Furrytoes and Brother Alaric are likely to have short careers. The rest are pretty decent Tanariel being the standout, only hampered by her abyssmal Con and Cha.

[foster1941]

Apr 8, 2008 15:42:48 GMT -6 greathierophant said:

No one has a helmet because I could not see any designated advantage in having one.

What if a spider drops on your head? Or a green slime? Or you're riding on your horse and there's a branch hanging at exactly head-height? Beyond that, buying helmets is the same idea as buying weapons other than daggers or a silver cross instead of a wooden one -- it's more about the way you picture the character than any actual quantified in-game advantage.

Calculating the encumbrance was tricky, I'm not sure whether I got it right.

Add up the values of the armor, weapons, and gold carried, then add another 80 for everything else (unless you judge that the character is carrying substantially more than a standard load in which case add more). So Ulf is carrying 789 (500 for chain + 150 for shield + 50 for sword + 9 for gold + 80 for everything else), Vernash is carrying 213 (20 for dagger + 113 for gold + 80 for everything else) and so on. It looks like you're adding an extra 30 for the wineskins? I don't think you need to do that unless they pick up extra wineskins (or, more likely, potions) as treasure.

[driver]

My own interpretation is that Magic-Users and Clerics have access to the full spell list from each level through their "books of spells." When they research new spells, they may add them to the list everyone can use, or they may hoard them jealously for themselves. Like most interpretations of OD&D rules, it's by no means unassailable, but there's some typically and comfortingly ambiguous textual support.

[Deleted]

That is an easy way around the problem, first level magic users can cast any first level spell, but they can only cast a single spell before having to rememorize it or chose another. In Chainmail, Wizards could employ any spell listed, but their power determined when or if the spell would take effect.

I also agree that the 30 coins for a wineskin should be for each additional skin, not the one each character needs in order to survive. It is under the "treasure" section and wine is valuable, water is generally not.

Finally, as far as the helmet issue goes, I think some penalty should be imposed on those who do not buy one. How about on each successful hit the character receives there is a 10% chance of a head blow that will knock him unconscious for 1 turn. Otherwise, how about the armor only granting the next lower benefit? In that case, Leather Armor becomes AC8, Chain Mail AC6, and Plate Mail AC4.

[foster1941]

Apr 8, 2008 17:20:47 GMT -6 greathierophant said:

Otherwise, how about the armor only granting the next lower benefit? In that case, Leather Armor becomes AC8, Chain Mail AC6, and Plate Mail AC4.

That's what Philotomy Jurament does, and it seems a reasonable enough house-rule (though in proper OD&D fashion, to retain backwards compatability with the Chainmail Man-to-Man Combat chart, it should be +1 on the attacker's roll to hit rather than +1 to the target's AC).

[Deleted]

I have modified the characters to reflect the changes or consequences mentioned in this thread.

[murquhart72]

So repost 'em already! ;D

[Deleted]

Done, I revised my first post instead of adding clutter to the thread.